@booklet {63806,
	title = {State Formation and Governance in Botswana},
	journal = { },
	year = {2004},
	note = {},
	month = {Oct 22, 2004},
	abstract = {Our analysis begins with the puzzle: how did Botswana develop a legal{\textendash}rational state? We suggest that three key interlinked factors were important. First, during the pre{\textendash}colonial period the Tswana developed local states with relatively limited kingship or chiefship and with a political structure that was able to integrate people of other ethnic groups such as Kalanga. Second, facing the onslaught first of the Boers, next of the British South African Company, and finally of the Union of South Africa, Tswana political elites attempted to maintain a good measure of independence by defensively modernizing. (The Tswana were not unique in this British Africa, either in the types of political institutions they evolved, or in their desire to modernize. What is unique about Botswana is they way that local state elites were coordinated in the whole of colonial national territory, pursuing similar policies to fend off the most pernicious effects of colonialism.) Finally, the political elites in both local states before independence and the national state at independence heavily invested in the country?s most important economic activity, ranching. This gave them a strong incentive to promote rational state institutions and private property. Moreover, the integrative nature of traditional Tswana political institutions reduced the likelihood that alternative groups would aggressively contest the power of the new unitary state.},
	author = {Robinson, James A.}
}
